Philadelphia Subway Tragedy

On this day March 7th, in 1970, the last three cars of a six-car subway train derailed and crashed into steel pillars in a tunnel during the morning rush hour today, killing three people and injuring about 150 others. At least six of the injured were in critical condition, including those crushed when the steel pillars pierced their car.

Some passengers were trapped for as long as four hours before they could be freed. Emergency medical workers amputated the legs of one woman caught in the wreckage. But she later died of medical complications.

Above ground, traffic was disrupted for hours as scores of emergency vehicles blocked off major roads.